Puget Sound Bike Share to roll out with 500 bicycles

Originally published April 23, 2013 at 12:01 am
Updated April 23, 2013 at 1:36 pm

Holly Houser, Puget Sound Bike Share executive director, on Monday shows what a bicycle to be used in an upcoming Seattle bike-share program will look like. Users will pay to get a bicycle at one stop, ride it for blocks or miles, then leave it at another stop.

The contract hasn’t yet been signed, said executive director Holly Houser, but a draft business plan last year estimated $3.7 million to supply land, bike racks, bicycles, helmets and communication kiosks.

Operations require an additional $1.4 million the opening year, she said, and it will take a few years to break even.

Capital Bikeshare in Washington, D.C., charges $5 a day, $25 a month or $75 a year, to give an idea of potential fees for users.

Alta wrote the business plan, raising an obvious question about conflict of interest. Did the firm supply the nonprofit with an overly optimistic study data to create its own market?

Houser says no, there was healthy competition from five enterprises that made proposals for Seattle. And some key reasons for choosing Alta weren’t even in the plan, she said, such as the use of solar collectors to power the payment and information kiosks.

Alta was the only firm ready to operate its system, rather than require the nonprofit group to hire a second contractor, Houser said.

The program would be funded through state and federal grants, plus sponsorships by businesses. The state Department of Transportation has recommended $750,000 for the program, but other funds aren’t secured yet.

The 500 bicycles would be at the Seattle Children’s medical campus in Laurelhurst, the University District, Eastlake, Capitol Hill, South Lake Union, downtown, the Chinatown International District and near the stadiums in Sodo.

The business model resembles Car2Go, except Bike Share has specific stops, whereas Car2Go vehicles can be dropped at curbside throughout most of the city.

“Having this whole menu of options from buses to light rail to Car2Go to Bike Share, it gives you options and confidence you’ll be able to get around without a single-occupancy vehicle,” said Houser.

Bike Share features include:

• Seven gears to help climb hills, instead of the usual three;

• Rain fenders, and a plastic guard to keep dresses out of rear spokes;

• Built-in front and rear lights powered by the cyclist;

• A low cross bar for easy dismount;

• Front basket;

• Helmets, dispensed for a possible $2 daily fee from a vending machine.

“You ask for a helmet, it comes out a door on the bottom. It’s just like getting candy or a bag of chips,” said Steve Durrant, a principal partner at Alta.